Vein Treatments

What Are Spider Veins?

Prominent blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface can create a “tree branch” or “spider web” appearance, resulting in a condition most commonly referred to as “spider veins” or telangiectasias. These veins are typically blue, red, or purple in colour and can sometimes appear swollen and bulge above the skin surface (also known as “varicose veins”).

Are Vein Treatments Right for Me?

Both men and women of different ages choose vein removal to improve the appearance of red, purple, or blue veins on the legs – frequently in areas like the calves, thighs, or ankles. Broken blood vessels or capillaries on the face or other areas of the body can also be treated using a laser or light procedure.

Spider veins typically don’t produce physical pain and are primarily treated for cosmetic purposes. At Bertucci MedSpa, we can help to improve spider and reticular veins. Larger varicose veins, on the other hand, may cause medical complications such as throbbing, burning, aching or swelling. These larger veins may be better treated by a vascular surgeon.

Your individual circumstances and medical history will help to determine which procedure is best for you. Dr. Bertucci, a board-certified dermatologist, will perform a complete physical assessment during your consultation in order to advise the appropriate treatment.

What Can I Expect?

Vein treatments are always performed in our clinical office by either Dr. Bertucci or a qualified health care professional. Both procedures are minimally invasive, require very little recovery time, and patients return home the same day. Usually, multiple sessions are needed for complete benefits.

Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a relatively painless procedure that is performed without anesthesia. Dr. Bertucci or a qualified health care professional will inject a liquid solution into the vein using a small needle. A series of injections is usually needed to obtain complete results. The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes. After treatment, a bandage is applied and Dr. Bertucci and his team recommend wearing a compression garment or support hose for a few days to speed healing and maximize results.

Laser Treatment
Laser procedures are performed without anesthesia and are relatively painless. The laser beam is directed toward the vein in order to target the red pigment in the blood. The laser heats the vein and destroys it while preserving the surrounding tissue. This procedure usually takes about 20 minutes with results appearing within about 4 to 6 weeks.

Recovery and Results

The side effects of sclerotherapy and laser treatments are very minimal. Some individuals may experience mild swelling, bruising, redness or itching at the treatment sites, which usually diminishes within a few days. Rarely, the skin may darken after treatment, usually temporarily.

Most of the men and women treated at Bertucci MedSpa experience a very high success rate with both sclerotherapy and laser vein procedures. Over several years, however, it is not uncommon to develop more veins due to weak vein valves, genetic predisposition or sun exposure. Maintenance therapy can help control recurrences.